The Government will be ready to temporarily renationalise Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) services - which include Southern Rail and Thameslink trains through Croydon - if needed, according to the rail minister.

Jo Johnson told MPs a review is ongoing and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will have the full range of options available to him if GTR is found to have been "negligent".

He added Mr Grayling is clear the Government would be ready to step in if required.

This approach has been implemented on the East Coast Mainline following the collapse of the Virgin-Stagecoach contract and has seen the Department for Transport temporarily bring routes back under its control.

GTR is the parent company which operates Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services.

Replying to Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington Tom Brake's calls to "sack" GTR, Mr Johnson said: "The Secretary of State has been clear he is leaving all options on the table should GTR be found to have been negligent.

"He is clear that the operator of last resort will be ready to step in should that turn out to be the case.

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He went on: "This company is incompetent, the time has come for them to lose the franchise and I urge the minister to act."

Labour's Joan Ryan (Enfield North) added: "On July 15 we get our third timetable in two months - this cannot be acceptable.

"The minister is a sight too relaxed for my liking about this matter."

Mr Johnson said the Government is urgently working on improving GTR's performance.

Conservative Maria Caulfield (Lewes) criticised the "disaster" of the timetable roll-out, saying: "I don't seem to sense a sense of urgency from the minister about what a devastating impact this is having on my constituents.

"Three hours to travel 50 miles home last night and three out of the first seven trains cancelled this morning.

"It's unacceptable, the franchise must go."

Mr Johnson replied: "We are looking at this as an absolute matter of urgency within the department - it is our top priority to ensure the unacceptable levels of services come to an end and passengers get the standard of rail that they have every right to expect.

"The Secretary of State has been absolutely clear - all options are available to him should they be found to have been negligent with respect to their contractual obligations."

*We would like to hear your own experiences of how the Southern and Thameslink timetable changes - and the train service in general - have affected your lives. Share your experiences by emailing newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk or sending a message to the Croydon Advertiser Facebook page.